Science activities for the busy teacher.
This blog will be participating in the A to Z challenge for April 2016. Posts are abbreviated for visitors. Pertinent links for more in-depth information are provided. Warning to non-teachers, comments will get very honest answers concerning anything unsafe to do in a classroom. Teachers would not take it personal. Neither should you. Safety is first.

Follow by Email

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Energy

Energy is the ability to do work. When someone says they don't have the energy to do something, it may very well be true. It takes energy to do work.

The study of energy is physics. So when you tell someone to quit being a lazybones and get their rump over here to help you, you are a master of physics or a taskmaster or motivator or nag. That's a stretch for sure.

There are Seven basic forms of energy. You may see a list with different numbers. It has to do with
classification. Some scientists differentiate a form of energy into two subsets or consolidate two together. Study energy or physics more in depth, the forms of energy separate into more categories.

Mechanical energy is energy in motion. An example would be a waterfall. Turbines are turned in flowing water to produce electrical energy. Energy can be changed from one form to another. Turbines are used at hydro-electric plants to create electricity.

When water is at the top of a water fall, it's potential energy is high and kinetic energy is low. As the water rushes down, the kinetic energy dramatically increases as it's potential energy becomes lower. You can look as potential and kinetic energy somewhat like phases of a form of energy.

Sometimes Sound is considered sonic energy. But sound is mechanical energy. Sound is the result of vibrations through matter. The moon has so many moonquakes, it should ring like a bell. But it does not. The moon does not have an atmosphere and there is no matter for the sound energy to vibrate within.

You can feel the vibration of a loud sound.

Heat Energy is the motion between particles, The more heat, the faster the molecules move. Rub your hands together and feel the heat of friction.

If you take two glasses of water. One glass has cold water, the other glass has hot water. Put a drop of food coloring in the cold water and shortly afterward put a drop of food coloring in the hot water. The hot water's motion will disperse the coloring very quickly: whereas, the food coloring slowly swirls in the cold water.

Nuclear energy is the result of splitting atoms, fusing atoms, or the natural decay of radioactive isotopes. Currently, we use the splitting of heavy radioactive atoms of nuclear fission to produce energy. Nuclear fusion would be best. However, we are unable to create a container or storage mechanism that can contain the energy of the reaction.

Chemical energy is the result of the breaking of chemical bonds between atoms. This sounds really complicated. But this is how energy is produced by a campfire, the burning of gasoline in a car engine, or the breakdown of glucose in your cells. Food, gasoline, firewood are all examples of potential energy. When you have a fire, metabolism of glucose, or a car engine running, you have the kinetic phase.
95 percent of the energy of an automobile is lost as heat due to friction. Only 5 percent is actually used to make the car move. If we wanted to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, creating a more fuel efficient auto would be key.

Electromagnetic energy is better known as light. The small visible spectrum of light we know as the rainbow, and invisible light such as infrared and ultraviolet. Infrared light has many forms such as radio waves, microwaves. X-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays are types of ultraviolet light. Unfortunately if you were exposed to gamma rays, you would not change like the incredible hulk but be dead immediately. This sort of energy can travel through empty space.

Light is made up of particles called photons. When tested photons can be matter or energy. However, scientist have never had photons be matter and energy at the same time. So much for all of us to learn.

Gravitational energy is the attraction of two bodies in space.

Ionization energy is the attraction of the negatively charged electron to the positively charged nucleus of an atom.

Checking in from the A to Z Challenge. One of my favorite parts of physics class. Besides, as a comic book reader those lessons helped me understand a little bit about the fantastic forces of our universe. I also find it kind of funny that I did a short story about lack of energy today.

Gear ratio! That's a physics joke at our house after Hannah's project car out distanced all the others because she changed the gear ratio. It so impressed her principle, every time he saw her in the halls he'd say gear ratio. Perspectives at Life & Faith in Caneyhead

Safety Always

These activities are chosen and designed to be safe. The nature of an accident is it is not planned. Water is a very safe substance. Spill water on the floor, someone can slip and fall. The greatest safety rule is to Think before you Do.

I taught science for over 30 years. I had a few accidents in the classroom. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. Purchasing a set of safety glasses at the dollar store is a good investment. I know parents, schools, etc shouldn't ask you to buy such. Life is all too real. If someone got hurt, you would have immense guilt.

Know your audience. There is a balance between a math teacher too afraid to let a group of students use a compass because it has a sharp point and the free for all approach some teachers use.

I've got a safety contract that I used in the classroom. Feel free to use it. The shorter and clearer the rule, the more compliance you will get. If you have that child or parent that you have to think like a Philadelphia lawyer around, realize it is an opportunity to deliver your instruction more clearly and safely.

I will post any warnings or cautions that I can think when making the posts. However, I cannot be responsible for what happens in your classroom or home. Use any of these activities at your own risk.